Platteville/Lancaster
Dodge Point United Varsity girls soccer team faced off against a formidable Platteville-Lancaster Hillmen squad on Saturday, May 9. While the final score of 0-7 reflected a challenging outing, the match was defined by early defensive grit and a standout performance in the net.
The first half saw Dodge Point playing some of their most disciplined soccer of the season. The defensive line remained composed under pressure, successfully neutralizing the Hillmen’s attack for the majority of the period.
Despite United’s offensive struggle-with Dodge Point unable to register a shot on goal throughout the match-junior goalkeeper Lucy Paynter stepped up and recorded a staggering 13 saves.
Reflecting on the performance, the coaching staff noted the team is already looking toward the future. Invoking a quote from General Patton, Head Coach Andy Weber remained optimistic: “Success is how high you bounce when you hit the bottom.”
With only one foul committed throughout the game, Dodge Point proved they can play a clean, disciplined game even when the chips are down. Fans can expect this squad to put the mistakes behind them and “bounce back” with intensity in their future games.
Galena
In a display of unity, Dodge Point United Varsity Girls soccer team played in Mineral Point on Tuesday this week. Because Dodge-Point United represents a shared roster of athletes from both Dodgeville and Mineral Point, the match was an opportunity to defend Mineral Point’s home turf contrary to usual home matches occurring on the Dodgeville campus.
Mineral Point educators attended the game, showing support for the Mineral Point student athletes on a windy spring evening that added the natural elements to the list of challenges the teams faced. The wind whipped at the corner flags and carried the cheers of a crowd that came prepared with handmade signs and high expectations. Dodge Point rewarded their fans with a 4-1 win putting on a display of unselfish, high-energy soccer that left Galena/East Dubuque searching for answers.
From the opening whistle, it was clear the future of the program had arrived. The stat sheet told a story of youth and rapid development: all four goals and a key assist came from the cleats of sophomores and freshmen. Head Coach Andy Weber described a “monster” performance by Mya Marklein at forward that the Galena defense couldn’t contain. Marklein found the back of the net twice, while Kendallyn Juno and Jessie Solberg-Kieler added goals of their own to keep the pressure relentless.
This offensive clinic was orchestrated largely by Layla Novak. She distributed passes with surgical precision, tallying two assists and keeping the wings in constant motion. Alongside her, Lilly Houtakker and Cat Biddick worked the passing lanes to ensure the attack remained fluid and unpredictable.
But the night wasn’t just about the scoreboard; it was about the grit beneath the surface. Several United players spent the evening battling through the fatigue of sickness and the nagging ache of injuries. That resilience was mirrored in the defensive half, where Ella Wilson anchored a back line that refused to break.
When Galena did find a gap, they ran straight into a stonewall. Goalkeeper Lucy Paynter put on a definitive performance, racking up seven saves and hitting the 100 mark for total saves this season. The highlight
of the night-and perhaps the season-was a breathtaking 1v1 save where Paynter stood her ground, charging down the attacker to preserve the momentum. It was a moment that signaled more than just a save; it looked like a goalkeeper exhibiting total confidence in a kinetic moment.
As the game ended, Head Coach Andy Weber reflected on a group that played with a singular identity. “This is who we are,” he remarked, noting the unselfishness that defined the win. Between the energy of the underclassmen, the veteran leadership of the upperclassmen, and the support from the local fans, it was a night where the “United” in the team’s name felt less like a title and more like a mission statement. For Dodge-Point, the challenge now is to keep that wind at their backs as they move forward to face Columbus on Thursday.
Mount Horeb
In a showcase of offensive skill, the Dodge Point United girls varsity soccer team went toe-to-toe with Mount Horeb on Monday night, falling just short of a stunning upset. The final score was 3-4.
Coming off a difficult weekend, United appeared rejuvenated and ready. Scoring was spread across the roster, with Mya Marklein, Lilly Houtakker, and Kendallyn Juno all finding the back of the net. For Juno, the goal was a standout moment as the first of her varsity career.
The offensive production was a total team effort, supported by clinical assists from Layla Novak, Mallory Allen, and Mya Marklein. The United midfield was particularly effective, drawing attention for how well they moved the ball to the wings to create scoring opportunities. In the net, Lucy Paynter was spectacular under a heavy barrage, finishing the night with 11 saves to keep the game undecided until the final whistle.
Head Coach Andy Weber saw the performance as a definitive statement regarding his team’s potential. “This was a great bounce-back game against a quality opponent after a rough Saturday,” Weber said. “This team proved, yet again, we can play with the best of them. Mount Horeb is a good team and they have beaten teams who have beaten us by larger margins, so this game shows what we’re capable of.”
While pleased with the progress, Weber noted that the next step for the program involves consistent execution across the entire match.
“We need to finish the full 80, eliminate mistakes, and improve on the little things if we want to beat the good teams,” Weber added. “I was really impressed with how our midfield moved the ball on the wings, and I was really impressed with how Mya Marklein operated at forward for us. Although the score wasn’t what we wanted, it was a wellplayed game.”
United returns to the pitch later this week, looking to turn this high-level performance into a win.